BALTIMORE GREENWAY TRAIL NETWORK PLANNING OF THE EAST BALTIMORE TRAIL SEGMENT
RAILS-TO-TRAILS CONSERVANCY IS IN THE PROCESS OF CONNECTING EXISTING TRAILS IN BALTIMORE, MARYLAND TO MAKE AN APPROXIMATELY 30 MILE LOOP AROUND THE CITY. THIS BOOK CONTAINS STUDIES OF THE EAST PORTION OF THE PROPOSED TRAIL.
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BALTIMORE GREENWAY TRAIL NETWORK PLANNING OF THE PROJECT SUMMARY DECEMBER 2016
EAST BALTIMORE TRAIL SEGMENT CITY OF BALTIMORE
The fourth year students of Louisiana State University’s Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture visited Baltimore in August of 2016. After working with Jim Brown of Rails-to-Trails, the students returned to school to spend the semester researching and developing design solutions for the Eastern leg of the proposed Baltimore Greenway Trail Network. The students worked in groups for the first half of the semester to conduct the inventory and analysis phases of the project. Four teams were formed and this book is divided into sections based on those teams. Over the remainder of the semester, the students split up to individually address specific sites along the trail. The students aimed to fulfill the mission of Rails-to-Trails to “bringing public agencies, nonprofit organizations, private firms and the health care community together to help connect Baltimore’s existing trails and create new safe avenues for non-motorized travel around the city” with the tools of landscape architecture.
PREPARED FOR Jim Brown Rails to Trails Conservancy Trail Development Manager jim@railstotrails.org www.railstotrails.org
PREPARED BY Fourth Year Bachelor of Landscape Architecture Candidates LSU Robert Reich School of Landscape Architecture Professor Dr. Austin Allen austina@lsu.edu www.design.lsu.edu/landscape-architecture
PREFACE | 3
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TABLE OF CONTENTS GROUP 1
6 MONUMENT GREEN
MATTHEW POCHE, SETH WINKLER, JONATHAN ADAMS, LU RUI YAO
GROUP 2
24 THE B.A.C. WAY
DANIEL HERNANDEZ, AIDAN GALLAUGHER, COLBY ALSTON
GROUP 3
34 THE B-LINE
ANJELICA SIFUENTES, VICTORIA GOUGH, MARIANNE GARCIA
GROUP 4
52 THE FLYWAY
MARLON WHITE, HAGAN DOYLE, BENTON WILLIAMS, DELANEY McGUINNESS
CONTENTS | 5
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MONUMENT GREEN | MATTHEW POCHE, SETH WINKLER, JONATHAN ADAMS, LUI RUI YAO | 7
S Ha ve n St.
E Lo mb ard St.
Ea ste rn Av e.
Vehicle Bos
ton
O’D on ne l St. St.
Pedestrain Bicycle Tram-Link Programmatic Nodes
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MONUMENT GREEN INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS DIVERSITY INDEX
MEDIAN HOUSEHOLD INCOME
CENCUS WHITE POPULATION
POPULATION DENSITY
CONCEPT Monument Green was developed on the basis of creating a public promenade that consisted of a series of nodes that are interlocked through the main conceptual corridor running along South Haven St. These nodes would all act as monuments through the site and have a historical or programmatic significance in relation to the entire project. These individual areas would rely on the revitalization of existing infrastructures or essential programs such as commercial or transportation in order to create a new environment within one of the most historically prominent cities in the United States of America. By analyzing the site’s existing conditions including its geological and social context we were able to create a series of functions that were intended to provide an active transit throughout the area. The transit map (left page) details the four different modes of primary circulation including pedestrian, bicycle, and railroad transportation.
RESPONSE In response to the project several surrounding businesses gave their input into the idea of having a public space run through the proposed project site. “I know exactly where that is I think its great I would be fine with it, we would [use] our outdoor seating area with the trail.” ~ Matthew Trady Monument City Brewing Company
CENCUS BLACK POPULATION
“I am 100% for the trail being a bike rider myself, the fence needs to be broken to allow access [to the wood working classes].” ~ Mark Supike Wood Turning
Transit Hub
Janney Park
Eastern Avenue Market
Monument Market Gateway
Bio-remediation Site
Harris Creek
AVERAGE HOUSEHOLD SIZE
Business Food Industry Residential Bus Stop Programmatic Node
MONUMENT GREEN | MATTHEW POCHE, SETH WINKLER, JONATHAN ADAMS, LU RUI YAO | 9
CONNECTIVITY The proposed site was a former Crown Cork and Seal Factory and warehouses. It was formerly the largest bottle capping factory in the United States. It was able to produce 40 billion bottle caps per year. The site is about 11 acres and located at South Haven Street and Eastern Avenue. The establishment of this factory created so many jobs that it initiated the development of its own neighborhood named Crown City. It is now known as Greektown. The company sold the property in 1958. Recently, some of the buildings are occupied by small companies but has the potential to be a viable hub for retail and commercial use. Crown City Market is one of the nodes we designated as a key component to the trail. Renovating the buildings will provide space for business to grow but also create an opportunity for affordable housing. This connection to trail will provide a “Bridge� for residents of Greektown and Highlandtown. It also creates connection to the transit hub less than 2 miles north and the Bioremediation Park directly south.
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CROWN CITY MARKET
EASTERN AVE.
GREEKTOWN
HIGHLANDTOWN
SOUTH HAVEN ST.
MONUMENT GREEN
PROPOSED SITE
ACTIVE RAILROADS PROPOSED TRAIL BARRIERS TRAIL ACCESS POINTS
MONUMENT GREEN | MATTHEW POCHE | 11
Monument Green | Crown City Market
Existing Streets
Active Railroads
Buildings on Site
Green Space
Purposed Trail Connection
Buildings off Site
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CROWN CITY MARKET SOUTH HAVEN ST.
MONUMENT GREEN
EASTERN AVE.
MONUMENT GREEN | MATTHEW POCHE | 13
CONCEPT This plan is more about a new approach to cleaning Baltimore’s urban atmosphere and less specific on site design. Focusing on the idea of daylighting, which involves revitalizing streams by uncovering some or all of the previous stream, river, or storm system. The most extreme impacts on urban environments are usually attributed to stream burial because of the reduced biotic richness, elevated concentrations of pollutants that would be filtered out had the water body been active. Because so many of Baltimore’s old neighborhoods are highly developed, this leaves little open green space and plant communities that can filter out a large portion of pollutants and oils from stormwater.
By daylighting Harris Creek, Baltimore can potentially enhance the creek’s nutrient retention “stream metabolism” and provide cleaner more useful nutrients downstream in the harbor while providing city cost reduction by providing a one time cost of construction, versus ongoing maintenance to culverts and pipes. Baltimore should greatly consider the idea of daylighting because of the reduction in flooding. Storm drains get clocked with trash, which causes water to backup out of the storm system and into the streets. It also boosts the native ecology of the area. The Chesapeake Bay has very nutrient rich soils that provide habitats for many animal species
MONUMENT GREEN CORRIDOR
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Maryland is one of the best bird watching states in the country. This enhanced ecology will contribute greatly to these bird populations by providing way points along their migration route south. This can potentially create “green corridors” through the city. By daylighting Harris Creek along Lakewood Avenue, this creates an urban trail connector from Patterson Park down to Boston Street and the canton waterfront park providing rec spaces, reducing the urban heat island effect infrastructure has on the city, and regenerates an urban environment of unique neighborhoods along the trail system all while commemorating one of Baltimore’s many historic landmarks.
HARRIS CREEK URBAN CHANNEL
BURIED HARRIS CREEK DRAINS
HARRIS CREEK MONUMENT GREEN
MONUMENT GREEN | SETH WINKLER | 15
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HARRIS CREEK MONUMENT GREEN
MONUMENT GREEN | SETH WINKLER | 17
3011 BOSTON STREET We do not create the world into which we are born. We inherit the world and its requisite warts. It is our job to accept the problems of our city and take responsibility for the future of our home. Petroleum byproducts have no place in Baltimore. The toxins left by Exxon Mobil Co. at 3801 Boston St. will be cleaned and the land restored to the people that call that place home. How? The site, previously a storage tank farm, is laden with hexavalent chromium, a byproduct of the storing and refining of oil. A highly toxic chemical, hexavalent chromium will be made inert through the use of microbes. The site will be hydrologically isolated by installing a pump system into existing groundwater wells. The pumps intake contaminated water, filtering it through bioplugs. These bioplugs are simple, innovative pipe systems, filled with toxin-cleaning microbe; they will be installed at the storage sites shown. As the groundwater filters through the bioplugs, the toxins are degraded and a radius of clean water emanates as the site heals. Each bioplug will be connected to a light displaying from red [high concentrations of Cr(VI)] to green [low levels of CR(VI)], This engagement strategy will allow trail-goers to watch and better understand Bioremediation.
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BREWER’S HILL BIOPARK MONUMENT GREEN
MONUMENT GREEN | JONATHAN ADAMS
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BREWER’S HILL BIOPARK MONUMENT GREEN
MONUMENT GREEN | JONATHAN ADAMS
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Orangeville Industrial Area E Eager St
imo
re P enn
Stat
ion
- 2.
Ashland Ave
9m
iles
N Newkirk St
Balt
N Macon St
e fr om
Orangeville
N Lehigh St
anc
N Janney St
dist
Iris Ave
Hub
E Monument St
N Kresson St
Ellwood Park
N Haven St
N Dean St
McElderry St
Hub
ki Pulas
dist
anc
e fro
mJ ohn
Hop
kins
-1
Hwy
mile
Active Train Rail Monument Green
Baltimore Highlands MONUMENT ACCESS LOOP The Access Loop is intended to provide a smooth transition from the old rail corridor to the lower streetscape. The proximity to the train station provides ease of circulation throughout the site and will improve the pedestrian and cyclist traffic traveling in the region.
Small/Med Street Trees
Med/Large Trees Railing
Sidewalk
Inactive Rail
Brick Material
80 75 70 65 60 6’
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14’
14’
MONUMENT ACCESS MONUMENT GREEN Monument Access Loop
Affordable Housing
Train Circulation
Mixed-Use Train Station
60
64
68
72
76
80
CONCEPT The primary goal of Monument Access is to create a central node within the Monument Green Corridor. This particular node will revitalize the physical rail divide by implementing affordable housing, mixed-use train station, and a proposed public promenade. The affordable housing will be used to promote living within the area with neighboring commercial districts within close proximity. The train station will act as the main program within the site as it creates a public area for pedestrians and residents to commute as well as providing commercial products for the general public. These different programs may require the aid of government funding while also creating a transit-oriented development.
Exterior
Residential
Commercial
Transportation
Foundation
A key focus in the design of the station was to create an infrastructure that maintained the Baltimore venacular and not undermining the nearby Baltimore Penn Station
Residential living will comprise the majority of the upper-two floors to provide ample space for incoming residents.
The first floor will comprise of mainly commerical units to provide food and nourishment to pedestrians.
The station utilizes the first floor and basement as an area to provide transportation to the region.
The basement infrastructure is built to accomodate for the varying levels of grading on near the rail tracks. The basement level will be used to house maintenance and utilities.
MONUMENT GREEN | LU RUI YAO | 23
INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS
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THE B.A.C. WAY | DANIEL HERNANDEZ, AIDAN GALLAUGHER, COLBY ALSTON
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EXISTING CONDITIONS A quarter mile from the Canton Waterfront along the B.A.C.WAY lies a massive, beautiful brick building that is largely abandoned. The structure is a good candidate for a mixed-income, mixed-use, transit-oriented development because of its square footage, its industrial charm and its landmark status. Its main selling feature, however, is the location. In addition to proximity to the B.A.C.WAY main trail and the desirable Canton waterfront area, it is also a short walk or bike ride away from proposed train stops--either near Hopkins-Bayview or at N. Haven St and E. Monument St.--that would give residents easy access to the entire Northeast rail corridor without ever getting into a car. Despite its charm and prime location, the building in its current state is badly disconnected from the urban fabric because of the many barriers surrounding its entire perimeter. To the north is a wide, high-speed portion of Eastern Avenue that descends 20’ below grade with steep walls on both sides as it crosses beneath four bridges. This undesirable pedestrian experience divides the thriving Eastern Avenue retail corridor into two. Additionally, an active rail on the building’s east side separates the property from Greektown. In fact, the building appears to loom over the neighborhood and behaves as a wall between Greektown and the rest of Baltimore. The barriers to the west are even more challenging. First, a wide active rail lies immediately on the other side of the building’s west wall. Then, four industrial buildings, one of which is abandoned, separate the building from the future B.A.C.WAY main trail which currently serves as yet another barrier between the building and the people. To the south, the abandoned rail and the active rail momentarily converge, creating a dead-end, island-like piece of land that is difficult to access. The combined effect of each obstacle renders the entire industrial area itself one large barrier that inhibits the flow of people and resources between the east and west sides of Eastern Avenue and thus Baltimore as a whole.
HIGHLANDTOWN
GREEKTOWN Highlandtown
retail
retail
sunken portion steep grade
VE TERN A
D LROA ACTIV
abandoned rail
ACTIVE RAILROAD
ABANDONED RAILROAD
BUILDING
Brewer’s Hill
industrial area
some activity
CONNECTIVITY DIAGRAM N^
BREWER’S HILL
EXISTING |
^^^^
^^
overpasses abandoned
E RAI
^
building edge / active rail
EAS
^^^
Greektown
EASTERN GATES TO THE B.A.C. WAY PROPOSED CONDITIONS
^ Tech Hub; potential train stop; Herring Run
The many layers of separation that currently plague the building are nonetheless responsible for the industrial charm that makes it such an easy sell. Sited at the confluence of 3 railroads, a major industrial corridor, a major commercial corridor, and three distinct neighborhoods, this landmark structure was once a pillar in the community both as an employer and as a symbol of opportunity and mobility. Adding the B.A.C.WAY trail to this complex intersection emphasizes its role as a central node between Baltimore’s diverse web of activities--a vision that is best fulfilled through a transit-oriented development that accommodates people from all walks of life To be successful, the development must be obviously associated with the B.A.C.WAY trail. The developer will buy the existing industrial buildings in the 500 feet that separate the main building from the trail and relocate the workers and their equipment across the railroad tracks into an upgraded facility within designated industrial spaces of the main building in order to preserve all existing functions on the site. To physically connect the building to the trail, a dramatic bike ramp gradually rises 23’ into the air, over the active rail, and into the second floor of the building’s northernmost mass before it spirals down to ground level and out into Greektown. This portion of the building is to be artfully deconstructed into an openair, heavily-planted atrium with no roof or windows. This permeable shell is the main entrance to the T.O.D. as well as a captivating, layered space to experience.
B.A.C.WAY MAIN TRAIL
Highlandtown
< to Patterson Park, Downtown
rn ste
Ave
s ace terr
enters
retail atrium transit oriented development
Brewer’s Hill
ve r
Greektown
acti
active rail
ail
Greektown
shipping container housing community
retail
building edge / active rail
ti
tail c e e n re
open-air theater
retail
T.O.D. street frontage
rail crossing bridge
Highlandtown
abandoned rail
onnec
Hopkins-Bayview, potential train stop >
softened grade
retail corridor
ve d c i m p ro
The green space around the ramp is divided into a large amphitheater for community gatherings to the north and a shipping container housing development to the south. This housing typology responds well to the reclaimed industrial and rail yard narratives on the site and is marketed to attract short-term, higher-income renters as well as to generate publicity for the development. The affordable units are limited to the main building because shipping containers have limited square footage that is not ideal for low-income residents since many of them are families.
improved streetscape
Ea
w on bet
Eastern Avenue is made more pedestrian-friendly through a road diet with only one lane in each direction to slow down traffic. The steep, vegetated slope on the southern edge is also softened to open the site to the streetscape below.
continued industrial use
S. Haven St
CONNECTIVITY DIAGRAM N^
Brewer’s Hill
PROPOSED to Harbor, Downtown, Fell’s Point
THE B.A.C. WAY | DANIEL HERNANDEZ | 27
^
commerce space
remove roof & windows
main trail
commerce space
to railroad crossing restrooms and storage beneath
ATRIUM
RAMP AND AMPHITHEATER
Entering from Greektown.
Views of Baltimoreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s skyline are visible when exiting onto the ramp from the building. CORTEN steel edging continues the post-industrial, reclaimed spaces and materials narrative that defines this stretch of the B.A.C.WAY.
mixed income residential
terraces
commerce space
atrium
railroad crossing
automobile access
community center at street level
remove existing hill and add an Eastern Ave entrance to provide T.O.D. with frontage and activate the street
railroad bridge over Eastern Ave
widened sidewalk even with Eastern Ave
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EASTERN GATES TO THE B.A.C. WAY
RAMP ENTRANCE FROM B.A.C.WAY MAIN TRAIL
AMPHITHEATER VIEW FROM B.A.C.WAY MAIN TRAIL
The trail is heavily planted with deciduous trees for shade in the summer and warmth in the winter. This is typical along the entire B.A.C.WAY.
Crossing through the site must appear straightforward and enjoyable in order for people to use the structure. The rampâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sweeping form, gradual ascent, and carefully-layered terraces builds an inviting, captivating, and memorable experience.
B.A.C.WAY MAIN TRAIL
small event zone
stage average event zone stormwater retention bathrooms
large event zone
grade softened near edge of street
streetside plaza
THE B.A.C. WAY | DANIEL HERNANDEZ | 29
PHASE II PRECEDENTS
Third Street Mall Promenade, Santa Monica: An excellent example of a dense shopping center that benefits from the empowerment of the pedestrian
Pearl Street, Boulder: An exclusively pedestrian, downtown area that is a popular day-long destination for shoppers because of it’s many amenities.
Bell Street Park, Seattle: Pedestrian directed street project, “Woonerf” in Seattle. This technique could be used along Boston Avenue to slow traffic and make crossing easier.
Drachten, Netherlands: “Woonerf” project using pavement patterns to direct traffic and blend pedestrians and vehicles in the same space.
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CANTON SHOPPING CENTER THE B.A.C. WAY
Shopping Center Masterplan: The masterplan shows Harbor Park in the east, neighbored by a new development proposal along inner harbor in orange. To the west in red is the proposed redesign for Phase II of the Canton Shopping Center.
The Canton Shopping Center marks the end of the waterfront development along Inner Harbor. It was developed on recently mitigated land from a former Exxon Mobil site. As it stands, the shopping center is laid out in a suburban manner consisting mainly of parking space. Compared to the rest of the Inner Harbor waterfront, it is a walking deterrent. Fellâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Point and the downtown district offer walkability throughout a dense urban matrix that continues along the harbor walk until reaching this shopping center. By bringing the B.A.C.WAY through the canton shopping center, the walkable qualities of downtown will stretch through the entire waterfront and offer the opportunity of movement through the rest of the northern portion of the path. This redevelopment of the shopping center would takes place in two phases. The first, less intensive of the two, consists of simply bringing a walking path and bike lanes through the shopping center. By making the area easier to access by foot, shops will see increased pedestrian traffic and increased revenues. Planting trees along the new path will make the area more desirable and reduce the heat island effect caused by the large paved surfaces which is also a pedestrian deterrent. The second phase of redevelopment is the transformation of a suburban space to an urban space. Redesigning the layout of the shopping center into a walkable mixed use development will create a desirable pedestrian friendly destination that will boost retail revenue and private investment. With this increase in private investment and pedestrian traffic, stakeholders of the shopping center could contribute toward the design of a crossing mechanism through Boston Avenue that would slow traffic and create a pedestrian right of way connecting Canton and Brewerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hill to the area and the rest of the waterfront.
Section Cut: Depicts Phase I implimentation in heart of shopping center with added bike lane, protective buffer, and improved pedestrian spaces.
THE B.A.C. WAY | AIDAN GALLAUGHER | 31
OVERPASS AT PULASKI HWY The B.A.C.WAY travels parallel to N Haven St. The trail typology should reflect the material vernacular of N. Haven Street. This includes but is not limited to heavy use of brick and metal. The trail will be separated into a bike lane and a pedestrian walk flanked by walls covered in murals or vegetation.
OVERPASS AT E. MONUMENT ST
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OPEN AIR CIVIC VENUE
PROPOSED RESTAURUANT
STREET ACCESS
NORTH HAVEN CORRIDOR THE B.A.C. WAY
TRAIL TYPOLOGY
BRICK BANDING
10’-0” CONCRETE BIKE LANE
7’-0” BRICK WALK
OVERPASS AT E LOMBARD ST
STREET ACCESS AND PARK
STREET ACCESS AND RESTAURANTS
AFFORDABLE HOUSING DEVELOPMENT
BUISNESS INCUBATOR
N THE B.A.C. WAY | COLBY ALSTON | 33
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THE
THE B-LINE | ANJELICA SIFUENTES, VICTORIA GOUGH, MARIANNE GARCIA | 35
HEALTH AND WELLNESS ANALYSIS
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
FOOD DESERTS
EXAMINING BALTIMORE’S CENTRAL ISSUES HEALTH AND ACCESSIBILITY The main trail line goes through an area of Baltimore which is known for it’s lack of accessibility and the gentrification that is happening along the harbor. We looked into the central area of the city and found that there is a huge discrepancy in the amount of health centers, healthy food, and other resources to the amount of people that can actually get to them. The biggest health center in the area is John’s Hopkins Bayview Medical Center which is to the East of most major residential areas, with many obstacles in the way. Besides this, most other medical centers are either downtown or further west, highlighting Baltimore’s problem of lack of east-west travel. The trail gives the public easy access to Morgan State University to the north, which was an important factor in our design analysis because a straight access path to the university could generate a significant amount of path usage. Most important to our inspiration of the B-Line, the food deserts of Baltimore were mapped to see the relation between them and location to the main trail. It became more apparent that there is a severe lack of resources to the people along the trail as the food deserts signify the struggles to live a healthy life when you are given little options.
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MEDICAL CENTERS
MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY
THE B-LINE INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS
When considering a masterplan trail through Baltimore, a heavy emphasis on long term change was taken into consideration. Currently, there are many issues the city faces, but this design focuses on the general well-being of the citizens by providing health education, small medical centers, and an area rich in neighborhood culture for the residents to experience.
ENTRANCE TO HERRING RUN
The B-Line is a journey, going through the different diverse neighborhoods in Baltimore while creating a narrative of a better tomorrow. Art and education is exhibited throughout the trail while every opportunity to promote the culture and health of the city is taken in the form of pop-up farmer’s markets, areas for rest along the trail, and a route that goes from the inner harbor to Morgan State University.
HAVEN’S POINT CONVERGENCE HUB CONNECTION
JOHN’S HOPKINS BAYVIEW
BREATHING BAY LOOP
THE B-LINE | ANJELICA SIFUENTES, VICTORIA GOUGH, MARIANNE GARCIA | 37
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
ART AND HISTORY
Baltimore is a city broken up in to different neighborhoods, each with their own specific culture and aesthetics. The history of each area is so strong, it needs to be shown off in a new and positive way. By using each neighborhood as a way to organize the B-Line, it’s possible to celebrate the community in ways specific to Baltimore and the people who live here.
JOURNEY TO A BETTER BALTIMORE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
CELEBRATING THE COMMUNITY FOCUS POINTS
NEIGHBORHOOD PRIDE
The focus of the B-Line is to create a healthy environment that is long-lasting and brings the community together. In doing so, it’s important to educate people through art by allowing local artists and businesses to express themselves along the trails by representing their neighborhood through murals and other street art.
STRENGTHENING THE COMMUNITY CELEBRATING LOCAL CULTURE The beginning of this pathway actually starts on the off ramp from the Interstate. By including this mural and art as a measure to slow cars down, a threshold is being created. People are fully aware that they are entering a new, special space and are careful to appreciate the art and life that is present along the trail.
BEFORE
CONNECTION THROUGH ART STREET PAINTINGS
PAINTED PATHWAYS
MURAL
Art as a healing process helps gather community members together to appreciate something unique to their lives, and by recruiting local artist to help guide visitors along the path, the connection of neighborhoods begins to strengthen. Instead of conventional signs, painted roads and pathways are used on the streets to guide path goers through path, with murals serving as beginning and ending points.
SCALE 1:1500
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CONVERGENCE HUB CONNECTION THE B-LINE LOCAL CONNECTIONS REDEFINING STREET ART The emerging technology acceleration center is located in a spot surrounded by local businesses, each with their own specific flair. The entire area is filled with character and serves as the perfect spot to come together just off the main trail. By connecting the paths from John’s Hopkins Bayview to the businesses, a new destination has been created to attract new visitors.
JOHN’S HOPKINS MEDICAL CENTER
INCUBATION CENTER
CONVERGENCE HUB
SCALE 1:1500
FOCUS AREA
SURROUNDING AREA
CONNECTION POINTS
VIEW TO MAIN TRAIL
THE B-LINE | ANJELICA SIFUENTES | 39
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE JOURNEY THRESHOLDS The convergence hub is located slightly off of the main trail, it is important to create different thresholds leading up to the convergence connection. The actual pathway towards the hub is unique to me because it represents how easily something can be changed for the better, all while celebrating the different aspects of the neighborhoods. Beginning from the established trails in the Bayview Medical center that people travel along new specified pedestrian and bike trails which are surrounded by artistic cues guiding them throughout the way.
HEALING THE CITY BY REBUILDING POP UP STREET MARKETS At the center of each local businesses lies an opportunity to create a hub as a destination point. The green space within the area serves as a park or courtyard which can be shared by all and the parking lots around can be imagined as pop up street markets where local residents can add to the local economy via selling, buying, or trading.
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CONVERGENCE HUB CONNECTION THE B-LINE
JANNEY STREET PARK
RESTORATION WORKSHOP
EMERGING TECHNOLOGY
MARK SUPAK & CO. LOADING DOCK MONUMENT CITY
TIFFANY EAST SCALE 1:1000
ATTRACTING DIVERSITY STREET ART USED AS GUIDANCE The convergence hub and the entire surrounding area is an important node along the B-Line because it provides a melting pot of businesses serving a diverse group of people. This idea is what the B-Line aims to achieve because the closer the community is together, the healthier and stronger the city can become. With these opportunities, a long lasting change is possible within Baltimore.
BEFORE
THE B-LINE | ANJELICA SIFUENTES | 41
CONCEPT The Breathing Bay Loop encompasses an honorable area of Baltimore due to its historical and active sea port which has shaped Baltimore’s industry for decades. It is situated off the southern end of the main Rails to Trails network because this area can add culture and integrity for Baltimore’s waterfront. This Bay Loop is “breathing” because of its ecological mannerisms dedicated to restoring the waterfront and remediating this polluted area due to the cities aged pipes in the sewer system that runs off into the water. A quick way to remediate this is to integrate Baltimore’s historical industry of oyster harvesting with Baltimore’s native makeup of wetlands. Oysters are filter feeders, consuming phytoplankton (free-swimming algae) and improving water quality while they filter their food from the water. As generations of oysters settle on top of each other and grow, they form reefs that provide structured habitat for many fish species and crabs. The floating wetlands would be a solution to alleviate pollution out of the water as well and provide habitat for fish, birds and aquatic animals. The citizens of Baltimore deserve their environment to be as healthy as possible and this is a great way to bring them out into the water and immerse themselves.
WHERE?
BREATHING BAY LOOP PARK EXISTING TRAIL
IMMERSIVE TRAIL SYSTEM FLOATING WETLANDS
286’
PROPOSED TRAIL
73’
75’
LIGHTHOUSE
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BAY LOOP MARKET
THE BREATHING BAY LOOP THE B-LINE
WHY? HOW? ESTUARY historically
wetlan
oyster sanctuary
LIVING TRAIL SYSTEM floating piers
ds
a resilient landscape d i ve
rse s
peci
es
people and the environment are intertwined
BAY LOOP MARKET
INDUSTRY
ting
n
i ve
educatio
at he
nowhere to go
ea healthy
ern
ar t
ng
increasing obesity rate
ali
the most industrialized port city
yo g a
alt
center communal
exercise
29%
POLLUTION
REGENERATION
established habitats
wetland
old sewage pipes
PCBâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
chromium
phosphorus
chlordane
oyster BIOHUT
p re d a t o r f re
e
F NO
2
live, feed, and reproduce
THE B-LINE | VICTORIA GOUGH | 43
FLOATING WETLANDS RENDERING FOR BALTIMORE
BIOHABITATS
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PRECEDENTS FOR BREATHING BAY LOOP THE B-LINE
FLOATING PIERS
CHRISTO AND JEANNE-CLAUDE
THE B-LINE | VICTORIA GOUGH | 45
EXISTING Baltimore deserves a space for the community to engage with each other and themselves personally, emotionally and physically. There are many abandoned buildings in Baltimore that have shut down that were once warehouses producing and manufacturing goods for diverse industries. There is an abaonded building on this section of the Breathing Bay Loop which is a cylo-like warehouse with very neat industrial remnants. The idea is to take this building and make is a communal center for alternative healing. This kind of healing is revolved around health; health for the body which includes a healthy diet, education, physical healing and mental healing. The healthy diet portion could include healthy resturaunts or indoor/ outdoor farmers markets which could be grown on site. The education could be informing citizens about the unhealthiness of Baltimore and how it could be resolved. It could also be rooms for learning about the pollution and unhealthy environment and how these amenities added on the site such as osyter havens and floating wetlands would remediate the area. The physical healing would be an active gym, rock climbing walls, silks, and yoga, etc. The mental healing would be medetation, yoga sessions, painting and drawing, sculpture and any other type of art. This building would be called the Bay Loop Market which would harness the southwest and norteast sides of the loop.
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PROPOSED
THE BREATHING BAY LOOP THE B-LINE B-LINE
THE B-LINE | VICTORIA GOUGH | 47
FUTURE AMTRAK STATION
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HAVENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S POINT THE B-LINE This area will be redesigned to become one of the main stopping points on and along The B-Line Trail. The surrounding area will be host to a new affordable housing apartment complex as well as many shops. The main shop will act as a cafe and fresh market for the community and users of the trail. Since the area will become a hub of sorts a future AMTRAK Train Station and MTA Bus Service Station will be added for vehicular transportation. The trail paired with the train and bus station will allow residents to travel farther, safer, and quicker around their city.
FUTURE MTA BUS STATION
FUTURE APARTMENT COMPLEX (OVERLOOKS TRAIL)
THE B-LINE | MARIANNE GARCIA | 49
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HAVENâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S POINT THE B-LINE
Main Shop will accommodate fresh market sales inside and around perimeter
Smaller Shops located across the street and walled from the electrical company
Trail comes off railway and decends to the haven community shop.
Walls under railway will be used as artspace
THE B-LINE | MARIANNE GARCIA | 51
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THE FLYWAY | MARLON WHITE, HAGAN DOYLE, BENTON WILLIAMS, DELANEY MCGUINNESS | 53
1”= 1000’ |
THE FLYWAY INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS
THE FLYWAY | MARLON WHITE, HAGAN DOYLE, BENTON WILLIAMS, DELANEY McGUINNESS | 55
BANK STREET
BANK STREET
FLEET STREET
FLEET STREET
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BANK-FLEET STREET CONNECTION THE FLYWAY
THE FLYWAY PATTERSON PARK CROWN INDUSTRIAL PARK JOHNS HOPKINS BAYVIEW
CONCEPT The effectiveness of The Fly can be reinforced by improving East/West travel connections so that visitors and neighbors to the trail can access it safely. Eastern Avenue is an excellent opportunity to improve East to West connections because of its adjacency to Patterson Park (West) and Johns-Hopkins Bayview (East.) If 1 mile of street scape would be improved, then bikers and pedestrians could venture to and from Patterson Park and Johns-Hopkins Bayview with increased ease and safety. Bank Street and Fleet Street were considered instead of Eastern Avenue because they are less frequented by faster traveling vehicles and buses. In general, the improvement to each street would incorporate protected bike lanes and bioswales to manage stormwater. Bioswales would be extremely beneficial to the neighborhoods of Highlandtown and Greektown because bioswales actually help to clean the stormwater they store. Stormwater runoff is one of the major causes of pollution in the Patapsco River.
THE FLYWAY | MARLON WHITE | 57
EAST AVENUE BRIDGE
SOUTH OF PULASKI HIGHWAY
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BANK-FLEET STREET CONNECTION THE FLYWAY
THE FLYWAY | MARLON WHITE | 59
CONCEPT This site is owned by Exxon Mobil and is currently a decommissioned chemical plant. As the southern entrance to the railway portion of the Flyway, the park will serve as a figure head for the trail and the surrounding community of Brewer’s Hill. Roadways will be re-organized and new parameters will be implemented, for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists to co-habitate safely. The Flyway will cross Boston Ave. and then follow along side streets into Brewer’s Hill where it will meet up with the proposed Brewer’s Hill BioRemediation Park, and lead northward through the railway corridor portion of the Flyway to Herring Run.
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BREWERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HILL BIO-REMEDIATION PARK THE FLYWAY
THE FLYWAY | HAGAN DOYLE | 61
SITE SECTION 1
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BREWERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S HILL BIO-REMEDIATION PARK THE FLYWAY
SITE SECTION 2
THE FLYWAY | HAGAN DOYLE | 63
EXISTING SITE CONDITIONS
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EAST MONUMENT ACCESS PARK THE FLYWAY
SITE LAYOUT DIAGRAM
CONCEPT PERSPECTIVE SKETCH
CONCEPT BUBBLE DIAGRAM
CONCEPT SITE PLAN
SCHEMATIC PERSPECTIVE SKETCH
CONCEPT The corner of East Monument St. and North Haven St. will be a pivotal node in the design of the Flyway in its larger context. The key design element is in the elevation change of the site. The main design challenge is to get the user of the Flyway from an elevated path down to a path at grade in a safe, interesting, and functional way. It is also a pivotal site for an East to West connection through the city for future development of bike paths that will share the road. The main goal of this design is to attract people from all socioeconomic backgrounds and to encourage maximum use of the Flyway.
THE FLYWAY | BENTON WILLIAMS | 65
SECTION A-A’
Scale: 3/8” = 1’-0”
SECTION B-B’
Scale: 3/8” = 1’-0”
WEST CONNECTION
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EAST MONUMENT ACCESS PARK THE FLYWAY
STA
BIKE RACKS
GE B
B’
A’
EVENT VENUE AND LAWN RESTROOMS
TUNNEL AND STREET ART
FOOD TRUCKS AND EATERY
N. HAVEN ST.
A
EAST CONNECTION
. T S T N E M U N E. MO
THE THEFLYWAY FLYWAY || BENTON WILLIAMS | 67
CONCEPT This electrical corridor is a right-of-way (R.O.W.) owned by Baltimore Gas and Electric (BGE.) It is the best path from The Flyway to Herring Run Trail, an existing nature trail to the North. Electrical corridors, however, have many clearance restrictions for safety reasons. To make room for a trail without widening the R.O.W., The electrical towers can be condensed into one per stretch rather than a pair of towers. This will reduced the number of towers as well as allow an opportunity to reposition them in safer places throughout the corridor, for example not in the middle of a wetland. These towers can also become sculpture pieces to detract from their aesthetic or lack thereof. The top portion of the towers will take the shape of a Baltimore oriole. The structures will be lit accordingly. The horizontal wingspan can hold all of the wires at the correct clearances. [See rendering at right.] Design elements are expanded upon on the following page.
EXISTING
EXISTING |
BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC RIGHT OF WAY THE FLYWAY
PROPOSED THE FLYWAY |
DELANEY McGUINNESS | 69
EXISTING NATURE TRAIL WETLAND ACTIVE QUARRY ELECTRICAL TOWERS MAINTENANCE TRAIL
PROPOSED
ORIOLE ELECTRICAL TOWERS TTTThe polygonal shape of a baltimore oriole will be the top half of the electrical tower. The wingspan is able to accomodate all 12 wires at the required distances, so there need only be 9 towers instead of 18.
ACCESSIBLE FLYWAY TRAIL Condensing the towers will make enough space for a flyway easement within the ROW.
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BALTIMORE GAS AND ELECTRIC RIGHT OF WAY THE FLYWAY
PAVING MATERIAL “Rubberway Softwalk™ is designed to offer pedestrians and joggers a low-impact, good traction, firm but resilient surface. [It] is a pervious, patented, two layer system which utilizes recycled tires to create an environmentally friendly facility for the entire community to enjoy. The poured, seamless system...is resilient, non-slip, and easy on the joints yet firm enough to be suitable for strollers, wheel chairs, skateboards, bicycles, and roller-blades. Rubberway Softwalk has been installed as walking and jogging paths in parks and as training tracks for schools and federal facilities.” [www. rubberway.com] It has the potential to earn up to 13 LEED points.
1” = 30’
PLANT MATERIALS The electrical towers require serious restrictions on surrounding plant material. Only low maintenance, low in height plants can be near the towers. An opportunity remains: to plant native grasses and wildflowers that align with the goals of The Flyway to create habitat for birds and other wildlife.
EDUCATIONAL SIGNAGE This signage, designed by the firm Heine Jones for Mount Stirling in the Victorian Alps (Australia,) is a great example of a very minimalist and low impact design that could be implemented along the flyway to teach trail users about the ecology and history of the site.
1” = 30’
THE FLYWAY |
DELANEY McGUINNESS | 71